Circular warp-knitting machine



June 12, 1923.

H. M. SMITH CIRCULAR WARP KNITTING MACHINE 18. 1918 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March June 12, 1923. 1,458,156

H. M. SMITH CIRCULAR WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 16 1918 8'Sheets-Sheet 2 June 12, 1923. 1458,1156

H. M. SMITH CIRCULAR WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 16 1918 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 SZ -L'I' June 12, 1923.

H. M. SMITH CIRCULAR WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 16 1918 8 SheetsSheet 5 fiwwz I M 1 Jam, ##Vm June 12, 1923.

H. M. SMITH CIRCULAR WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 16, 1918 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 H. M. SMITH Filed March 16, 1918 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 June 12, 11923.

CIRCULAR WARP KNITTING MACHINE June 112, 1923. ]l,458,56

H. M. SMITH CIRCULAR WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 16 1918 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented June 12, 1923.,

warren stares insane HENRY M. SMITH, F SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

CIRCULAR WARP-KNITTING MACHINE.

Application filed March 16, 1918. Serial Nb. 222,963.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, HENRY M. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Salem, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Circular arp-Knitting Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to a novel apparatus for knitting fabrics with a plurality of different yarns, strands or threads.

, The apparatus is especially adapted for the production of tubular fabrics, such for instance as is suitable for shoe lacings, corset lacings, coverings for insulated wires, gas mantels, etc., and further for the production of a compact tubular fabric in which the diameter of the fabric is reduced to a minimum and which forms a knitted thread which is of increased strength and is especially useful for sewing boots, shoes and other articles, and for use as fish lines and the like.

In making the fabric with the apparatus embodying this invention a plurality of separate and distinct yarns, threads or like strands are employed, and they are presented to a series or gang of reciprocating needles having eyes and latches to close said eyes, and said threads or strands for the best results are equal in number to the needles and are arranged with relationto said needles, so that each thread is presented to a needle above the open latch thereof, to pre-.

vent accidental closing of said latch and to ensure engagement of the thread with the eye of said needle, and is locked in said eye by a loop of a different thread on said needlewhich loop effects movement of the latch to close the eye thereof and lock or confine the thread therein when the needle is moved in one direction to cast the said loop off from said needle, and the said latch is opened by the thread in the eye thereof, which thread forms a loop on the needle below said latch when the needle is moved in the opposite direction and into position to receive a third thread, which is separate and distinct from those from which the cast off loop, and the loop on the needle are formed.

In the apparatus herein shown and preferred by me, the threads are made movable in a circular path, preferably continuously in the same direction, about the gang of needles, which latter are arranged in a circle. about a central tube down through which the knitted fabric is passed or fed 80 out of the machine, and with which co-operates a device, preferably in the form of a hollow tube which serves a twofold purpose, to wit, it serves as a stripper or abutment for the knitted fabric to engage, and prevent or reduce to a minimum upward movement of the knitted fabric with the needles 0n the upward movement of the latter, which might otherwise take place owing to the frictional engagementof the needles with 7 the loops thereon, and second, said abutmentor stripper tube serves as a guide and center bearing for the needles as the latter are reciprocated, and maintains the needles always in the same circle while in motion and prevents variation in the diameter of the tubular fabric knitted on the machine 1 and consequently ensures a uniform product.

Provision may and preferably will be made for setting or compacting the loops 30 in the knitted fabric so as to form a tubular thread or fabric of minimum diameter, which is especially adapted for use as a knitted thread for sewing boots, shoes, leather and other articles requiring a strong g5 thread, and which is also useful for fish lines and the like.

To this end. the machine is provided with what may be designated a loop setting mechanism, one construction of which is herein W shown.

Provision is also made for automatically taking up slack in the threads, and further for automatically stopping the machine in case a thread breaks or becomes abnormally slack. as will be described.

Provision is also made for automatically lubricating the reciprocatin needle carrier, whereby proper running 0 the machine is ensured with a minimum attention.

I bodying my invention.

Fig. 2, a detail of the automatic stop mechanism to be referred to.

Fig. 3,'a side elevation of themachine shown in Fig. 1, looking toward the left.

Fig. 3*, a detail of one of the thread guides.

Fig. 4, a front elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5, a vertical section on the line 5- Fig. 1, with parts in elevation.

Figures 6 and 7 diagrammatic views to illustrate'the driving mechanism of the machine. 1

Fig. 8, a sectional detail on an enlarged scale of the needles and their carrier with the needles in their lowered position.

Fig. 9, a plan of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10, a section like Fig. 8 with the needles in their elevated position.

Fig. 11, a plan of Fig.10.

Fig. 12, an enlarged vertical section of the lower part of the needle carrierand its operating mechanism.

Figs. 13 and 14:, details to illustrate the loop setting mechanism.

Figs. 15 to 19 inclusive, details in section to illustrate the formation of the loops.

Fig. 20, a diagrammatic view to illustrate the formation of the fabric.

Fig. 21, a detail of the fabric shown in Fig. 20 after the loops have been set.

Fig. 22, a plan of a tubular fabric with the loops set, and

Fig. 23, a plan of a knitted thread.

In order that the invention may be clearly comprehended and the operation of the machine clearly understood, I will first describe in detail the method of forming atubular knitted fabric with a plurality of threads, and the method of forming a tubular knitted thread from said fabric.

In Fig. 20,1 have represented diagrammatically a ortion of a loosely knitted fabric, composed of a plurality of substantially parallel vertical and horizontal rows of loops of diflerent threads with the loops of each thread in each vertical row passing through a loop of the next adjacent thread.

In Fig. 20 are shown three parallelvertical rows of loops 0:, b, 0, and four horizontal parallel rows d, e, f, g, and said loops are formed from six threads 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16.- The loop in the vertical row a formed in the thread 10, passes through the loop in the row a formed in the next adj acent thread 12, and the loo in the row a formed in the thread 12 passes through the loop in row a formed in the next adjacent thread 13, and the loop in row a formed in the thread 13 passes through the loop in row a. formed in the next adjacent thread '14 and so on down the row a the length of the'fabric.

The loop in row bformed in the thread 10 is not shown in Fig. 20 as it is in a horizontal row of loops above the uppermost horizontal, row 03 of loops herein shown. The loop in row 6 formed in the thread 12 is in the horizontal row (i and is in the row above the row e in which the loop formed in thread 12 in vertical row a is located. The loop of thread 12 in vertical row I) passes through of thread 13 in vertical row I) is in horizon. tal row 6 which is above the horizontal row f in which the loop formed in thread 13 in vertical row a is located.

The loop formed in thread 13 and located in vertical row 0 is located in horizontal-row the loop of thread 13in row 6, and the loop formed in thread 15 are located in vertical rows 1), and o, and the loop formed in thread 16 is located in row 0,

It will thus be seen that the loops formed in each thread are arranged in successive vertical rows and are in difierent horizontal rows, or in other words, each thread is formed into a series of loops located in substantially parallel planes with the loops in each thread in different vertical planes and in different horizontal planes, and consequently the loops formed in each thread are arranged in a spiral or helix and pass through helically ar-' ranged loops of an adjacent thread. As a result of this arrangement a strong fabric is formed in which all the threads are free to move in the same direction, and are not In Fig. 23, 18 represents a tubular'fabrio of minimum diameter suitable for use as a sewing thread and formed by using a fewer number of needles than the number 1 emploved in forming the fabric 17 represented in Figs. 21, 22,- and the number of needles used depends upon the diameter of the knitted tubular fabric desired. In making the tubular knitted fabric, each thread. is moved in a circular path about a lurality or gang of needles 20 as a center. ach needle 20 is provided with a beak 21 and a pivotedlatch 22, see Figs, 15 to 19, which cooperates with the beak 21 to form an eye 23. Each of the reciprocating needles 20 cooperates with all of the yarns or threads in each complete travel or movement of the threads in their circular movement about the needles, which movement in the machine herein shown is a complete revolution of the carrier for the threads, as will be described. In this circular movement of the thread carrier, each thread is laid across a needle above the latch 22 thereof as represented in Fig. 16, the needles being in their elevated position. Each thread which may be represented by the thread 13 is thus brought into position to be engaged by the beak 21 of a needle 20 and to have a loop 25 formed therein by the downward movement of the needle from the position shown in Fig. 16 to that shown in Fig. 19. On the next upward movement of the needle, the latter passes up through the loop 25 in the thread 13. and the said loop passes over the latch and onto the shank of the needle below the latch. as represented in Figs. 15 and 16. In the meantime. the next. succeeding thread 12 is laid across the needle above the latch and into position to be engaged by the beak of the needle on the downward movement of the latter. This condition is represented in Fig. 16 and the numeral 12 is also applied to the thread shown therein. On the next downward movement of the needle. it passes through the loop 25 of the preceding thread 13 and causes the loop of the latter, to move the latch 22 and close the eye of the needle, as represented in Fig, 18, thereby locking or confining the succeeding thread 12 in the eye of the needle. On the further downward movement of the needle. the closed eye of the needle is drawn through the loop 25 of the preceding thread 13 and the latter loop is thus cast off from the loop in the eye of the needle, and becomes loop 25 in Fig. 19.

The needle is now elevated, and on its upward movementpasses through the loop 25 of thread 12 after the manner represented in Fig. 15, causing the latter to turn the latch 22 and completely open the eye of the needle by the time the latter has reached the limit of its upward movement, which position is represented in Fig. 16. In the meantime, the next succeeding thread 10 is laid across the needle above the latch with the needle in its elevated position. This cycle of operations is repeated during each complete movement of the threads in their circular path, it being understood that each thread is laid across each needle of the gang of needles in each complete circular movement of the separate or individual threads.

It will thus be Seen, that in making the tubularfabric knit-ted as above described, each needle of the gang of needles on its down stroke into substantially the position shown in Fig. 19, casts off the loop of thread, that all the needles cast off their loops simultaneously and form a horizontal row of loops as for instance row (1 or c or f or 9, etc., and further that all the loops in each horizontal row are formed from separate or different threads.

As soon as the loops of each row are cast off, the said loops are placed under tension by a suitable mechanism to be described for feeding the knitted fabric out of the machine and preferably are subjected to additional and preferably greater tension, which latter serves to compact or consolidate the loops of each row substantially as fast as formed. and to bring each individual loop into close formation with the walls of the loops substantially in contact with each other. thereby reducing the diameter of the tubular fabric and forming a strong and better fabric. By reducing the number of threads and the number and size of the needles, and subjecting the tubular fabric formed with the same, to the additional tension above referred to, I and en-' abled to reduce the diameter of the tubular fabric to such extent as to practically eliminate the bore of the tube and have the inner circumference of the latter form practically a line, after the manner represented in Fig. 23, and thus produce for the first time, as I believe, the knitted thread 18 which is highly useful as a sewing thread for use in boots .and shoes, for harness work, tire fabrics, bags, and for sewing generally where strength is desired. So also such thread is useful as fish and other lines.

In the present instance I have shown one construction of machine for producing my improved knitted fabric in accordance with the method above described, but it is not desired to limit the invention to the particular construction of machine herein shown.

The machine herein shown is provided with a gang of ten needles 20, which are concentrically arranged and are secured as by screws 200 to a reciprocating needle-carrier preferably of the construction herein shown, see Figs. 5, 8, and 10, and comprising a tubular lower member 30 and a cylindrical upper member or head 31 fastened to the upper end of the lower member 30 by a pin 32 or otherwise.

The upper member or head 31 is provided with a series of slots 33 for the reception of the lower ends of the needles 20, and the rear walls 34 of said slots are preferably inclined toward the axial center of the needle carrier. The upper or latched ends of the needles project above the head 31 and are designed to bear against a tubular lit) . cylinder 40 which is closed at its lower end of functions.

and open at its upper end, and into which the lower end of the needle carrier member 30 reciprocates and is guided thereby.

The cylinder 40 forms a well for the reception of oil 41 which serves to keep the needle carrier properly lubricated. The tubular member 30 of the needle carrier is extended through a bearing cylinder or hub 42 which is attached to or forms part of-a web or disk 43 of a cylindrical hub 4E4, supported by and secured to the bed plate 56 of the machine. The upper end of the bearing hub 42 is recessed or made conical to form a receptacle 47 for oil, and the lower bearing hub or hollow boss 38 is likewise recessed'to form an oil receptacle 48 for lubricating the outside of the member 30 of the needle carrier.

The guiding and supporting tube 35 for the upper ends of the needles is preferably provided with channels or guiding slots 50 for the upper ends of the needles, and said tube for the best results has cooperating with it a device 51, preferably in the form of a tube of substantially the same diameter as the tube 35, and which has its lower end separated from the upper end of the tube 35 by a small space 52, which is substantially equal to the thickness of the loops cast off .from the needles.

The device 51 is stationary while the fabric is being knitted and has a plurality I It cooperates with the tubular fabric and serves as a stripper or abutment for said fabric to engage and prevent or at least reduce to a minimum upward movement of knitted fabrics and of the loops on the needles, when the latter start on their upward movement from substantially the position shown in Fig. 19 into that shown in Fig. 16, which movement of the loops is due to the frictional engagement of the loops with the needles. As a result the loops are prevented from being abnormally enlarged and a closer initial knitting of the fabric is obtained.

The device 51 also cooperates with the free ends of the needles and serves as a suppbrt for the same when they are moved above'the tube 35 on their upward movement, as shown in Figs. 15 to 18.

It further serves to preserve the upper ends of the needles in theirdesired or concentric ition and prevents the free ends of some of the needles being moved .out of their concentric position and nearer to the axial center of the tube 35 than others, as might happen if the needles were unsupported and the tension of the threads on some needles was more than that of other threads. It further serves as a guide or centering device for a-wire or other device, .in cases where the knitted fabric is to form the covering for such object, as for instance insulated wire.

The device 51 is also preferably provided with grooves 151 which are in ali with the grooves 50 in the tube 35. The device 51 is adjustably secured as by set screws 54 in an over-hanging arm 55, which is mounted to turn on an upright post 56 erected upon the framework of the machine, and is held in its operative position by means of a pin 155, see Fig. 3, on an arm 156 fast on the upright 56, the said pin entering an openin in an arm 157 on the member 55. By liftlng the member 55, the arm 157 may be removed from engagement with the pin 155, whereupon the member 55 and the device 51 can be turned about the post 56 as a center, thereby gaining access to the needles 20.

The needle carrier 35, 36, is reciprocated vertically as herein shown by means of a path cam 60 in the face of a disk- 61, see Figs. 5 and 7 ,fast on a shaft 62 rotatably mounted in a bearing 63 attached to the framework. The path cam 60 has extended into it a roller 64 on a pin or stud 65 projecting from a block or collar 66, fastened to the needle carrier tube 30 as by a pin 67 or otherwise, see Figs, 5 and 12. The block or collar 66 is made angular in cross section and moves in a' correspondingly shaped opening 167 in the framework and serves to prevent cramping of the cam roll-64 in the path cam.

The reciprocating needles 20,- herein shown in Figs. 9 and 11, as ten in number have cooperating with them a plurality of threads, 10, 12, 13, etc., preferably the same number as the needles. The threads may be taken from individual spools or bobbins or as herein shown from a single package 70, see Figs. 1, 2 and 3, composed of ten threads which are wound upon a single center tube or cop, not shown, and said Package is mounted upon a center tube or holder 72, which surrounds the upper member 35 of the needle carrier and the lower portion of the stripping device 51, see Figs. 8 and 10, and is fastened to a revoluble thread carrier, herein shown as a circular disk or turn table 73 in Figs. 5 and 12, which is provided on its under side with a beveled gear 74 mounted to turn on the circular hub 44. As shown in Fig. 12 the package holding tube.72 1s extended through the turn table 3 and gear 7 4 and has fast on it a collar 75, and the latent ter and the turn table are secured to the opposite sides of the gear 74 by screws 76, so that the package holder and turn table move with the bevel gear 7 4 as one piece.

The turn table 73 has erected upon it a plurality of pins or rods 78 located in a circle near the circumference of the turn table.

The turn table 7 4 is provided with a pin 78 for each needle, and these. pins serve as guides for the threads, and also as supports for tension devices.

Each pin 78 at its lower end is provided with a cut or slot 79 extended transversely of it and preferably rounded as shown in Fig. 3, and the thread cooperating with each pin is passed through the slot 79 and then lengthwise of the pin and through a slot 80 in a collar 81 on the pin and through a diametrical slot 82 in the upper end of the pin, see Fig. 3*. The thread for instance 10, is then passed between pins 83 on the collar 81, and led to the package holding tube 72 and through a vertical slot 84, see Fig. 8, in the upper end of said tube, there being a slot 84 for each pin, as herein shown.

The bottom of the slots 84k in the tube 72 are substantially at the same level as the bottom of the slots 82 in the pins 78, and the tube 72 is made of sufficient height above the turn table 73 to have the bottoms of the slots 84 above the upper end of the guiding tube 35 for the needle carrier, and sufiiciently above said tube to ensure that the portion of the threads within the tube 72 shall be in clined and above the lower end of the latches on the needles, in the open position of said latches as represented in Fig. 16, whereby the said inclined portion of the thread in the revolution of the tube 72 about its axial center will be laid over the latch and thus prevent the latter being accidentally closed by sudden stopping of the needles at the end of their upward movement, which, if it should occur, would prevent the thread being laid in the eye of the needle on the down stroke of the latter, and thereby produce imperfect work.

Provision is made for taking up the slack in the threads, which may be accomplished by a take up or tension device, herein shown, in the form of light rods 86, see Figs. 1' and 3, which are arranged substantially parallel with the uide pins or rods 78, and fastened at their ower ends, to hubs or collars 87 loosely mounted on the rods 78 and capable of rotating thereon.

The collars or hubs 87 are provided with threaded studs or pins 88 extended laterally therefrom and having nuts 89 adjustable thereon, said nuts constituting one form of adjustable weight for regulating the amount of centrifugal force required to turn the collars and move the rods 86 so as to take up the slack in the threads. The collars 87 being rotatable by centrifugal force are utilized as a part of a stop mechanism, by means of which the machine may be stopped in case a thread breaks or becomes so abnormally slack as to be equivalent to a break.

To this end, the collar or hub 87 at its lower end is reduced in diameter or cut away as at 90, see Fig. 2, which cut away portion is of sufficient width to allow the hubs to pass by studs or projections 91 on the inner circumference of a ring 92,-loosely mounted on stationary supports 93 erected upon the table 46, see Figs. 4 and 5, the bearing block 94 for the main shaft 95 being utilized as one of said supports.

The studs 91 extend radially from the ring 92 and are made of such length as to permit the hubs 87 to pass by them when the cutaway portion 90 of said hubs are opposite the said studs, which may be considered the normal position of said hubs, with the threads under the proper or desired tension. The hubs 87 are capable of being turned on the pins 78 by centrifugal force as the thread carrier 73 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 96, Fig. 1, but they are re strained from turning by the threads engaging the rods 86 when the threads are under the desired or normal tension. When, however, the tension on any thread relaxes, the thread is immediately placed under the desired tension by the rod 86, which is turned with the hub 87 by centrifugal force so as to follow up the slackened thread, the hub 87 and its rod 86 turning in the direction of the arrow 97 in Fig. 1. If the thread should become abnormally slack or should break, the hub 87 will be rotated by centrifugal force sufliciently to bring the lower end of the hub into position to engage one of the studs 91 on the loose ring 92, after the manner represented in Fig. 2, and thus practically couple the normally loose ring 92 to the turn table 73, and cause the said ring to move with the turn table until the machine is automatically stopped, which is efi'ected by a knock-ofl' mechanism, herein shown as a series of pins 99 extended up-.

wardly from the loose ring 92 and suitably spaced apart, and cooperating with a trigger or lever 100, pivoted to a stationary part of the machine and having the free end of one arm thereof normally extended between two adjacent pins 99 and so on to be engaged by one of said pins, when the ring 92 is moved with the thread carrier or turn table 73, and thus turn the trigger or lever 100 on its pivot and disengagethe other arm 101 of said lever from a pin 102 on an arm 103 extended from a clutch lever 104, and permit the latter to be turned on its pivot so as to throw out the. clutch and stop the machine.

In the present instance, I have shown in Fig. 5 one form of clutch which may be preferred, and which consists of a fast'memher in the form of a disk 105 fastened on the main shaft 95 as by a pin 106, and with which cooperates a movable member in the form of a pulley 107 which is loosely mounted on the shaft 95, and between said members is interposed a leather or other friction ring or facing 108. The pulley 107 has a hub 109 which projects beyond, the end of the shaft 95 and is provided with a recess 110 into which is extended a socket member 112, provided on its front face with a socket for the reception of a spherical head 113 on a rod 114, secured to one end of the lever 104, whose other end is provided with a handle 115. By reference to Figs. 1 and 5, it will be seen that when the handle of the clutch lever 104 is turned in the direction of the arrow 116, the head 113 forces the socket member 112 against the bottom wall of the recess 110 in the hub of the loose tionary clutch member or disk 105, thereby clutching the driving pulley 107 to the main shaft 95 and starting the machine in motion.

When the clutch has been thrown into operation, the pin 102 on its arm 103 enters the recess or notch 118 in the trigger arm 101, see Fig. 1, and the clutch is locked in its operative position by a spring 119 encircling the pivot of the trigger and having one end engaged with the trigger and its other end engaged with the framework (see Fig. 3). When the clutch has been thrown into operation, the main shaft 95 is rotated and by means of the bevel. pinion 120 and gear 74 rotates the thread carrier or turntable 73 and the parts attached to the latter, and in the present instance this rotation is continuous in one direction. The main shaft 95 also drives the cam shaft 62 by gears 121,

122, see Figs. 5 and 6, and the cam shaft 62, :drives the shaft 123 by gears 124, 125, see

Fig. 7, and the shaft 123 drives a shaft 126 by a worm 127 and gear 128. The shaft 126 may be designated the feed shaft for the knitted fabric, and is provided with a feed roll 129 with which cooperates a feed roll 130 on a shaft 131, see Fig. 4, supported in a movable plate or lever 132 whichis pivoted to a bracket 133 on the framework of the machine, and is pressed toward the framework by a spring 134 on a rod 135 extended through the plate or lever 132, the tension or pressure of the spring 134 being regulated by nuts 136 on said rod.

The spring 134 forces the feed roll 130 toward the feed. roll 129 and engages the tension.

knitted fabric 17 to feed it forward as fast as it is formedand to place the fabric under This feed of the fabric is made positive by a gear 230 on the shaft 126 and a gear 231 onshaft 131. The knittedfabric 17 passes down through the tube 36 and is passed about a stationary pin 140, see Figs.

stance to the block memes 4, 13 and 14, extendedfrom the framework of the machine and located on the opposite side of the axial center of the tube 36'from the feed rolls 129, 130, see Fig. 4.

The knitted fabric 17 after passing around the pin 140 is carried across a space 141 between two stationary pins 142, 143, ex tended from the framework and located between the pin 140 and the feed rolls 129, 130.

acts as ahammer and is reciprocated by the cam disk 61 and on each down stroke strikes the portion of the knitted fabric resting on the pins 142, 143, a sharp substantially hard blow and carries said portion down between the said pins and into substantially the position shown .in Fig. 14.-

Inasmuch as the knitted fabric 17 is firmly heldat one side of. the setting. device by the feed rolls 129, 130, the blow is caused to act on the row of loops cast off from the needles, just prior to the operation of the settin device, with the result,- that the loops of eac horizontal row of loops are reduced in size or contracted from a loose or wide open loop such as illustrated in Fig. 20 into a small or compact loop as represented in Fig. 21, in which latter condition, the sides of the loo are brought close together and substantia ly in contact, thereby making a closel knitted and stronger fabric and enabling a short fiberecl thread to be used. The setting device may be adjusted to cause the loops to be contracted more or less as desired, and in Fig. 22 I have represented the neral appearance of a tubular fabric in w ich the loops have been contracted or set so that they are close together. Thissetting feature of the invention enables me to produce for the first time as I believe, a kmtted thread, that is, a tubular fabric'in which the loops are contracted and com pacted to such extent, that the bore of the tube is practically eliminated and the inner circumference of the tube is reduced to such and restores the knitted fabric rom the condition indicated in Fig. 14 to that indicated in Fig. 13. hen the cast 0E loop is set as described, it is drawn into the guide tube from the position shown in Fig. 19 and thereby enlarges or lengthens the loop in the thread which is in the eye of the needle. and this lengthening of the loop affords plenty of room for the needle to pass up through it without placing abnormal strain upon the threads in the knitted fabric, and thereby avoids damage to the fabric by breaking or straining the threads thereof. In making a knitted thread, the number of individual threads is materially reduced, as is also the size of the needles and needle carrier and' the number of needles, and in practice, I have produced a knitted thread suitable for use on sewing machines for sewing the outer soles of boots and shoes to the welts thereof, for sewing harness leather and the like, for the manufacture of fabrics for automobile tires, by employing five threads on the machine herein shown and substituting for the needles and the member 31 of the needle carrier herein shown. and the member 35 of the guide tube 36 and for the stripper 51, five smaller needles and a needle carrier having a member 31 of materially less diameter than that herein shown, a smaller member 35 of the guide tube, a smaller stripper 51, and replacing the gears 121, 122 with gears of the same size, so as to reciprocate the needles five times for each revolution of the turn table.

The loop contracting or setting device is designed to operate at or about the time the loops in each horizontal row are cast off from the needles or when the loops are in substantially the position shown in Fig. 1 9, and at such time it will be observed that the additional tension placed upon the fabric by the setting device, will be transmitted to the row of loops last cast off, as they are free to respond to the said device, inasmuch as the knitted fabric is firmly held at the other end by the feed rolls 129, 130. .It will thus be seen, that the setting device subjects the knitted fabric to a tension in addition to the tension imparted by the feed rolls, and as I believe myself to be the first to subject a knitted fabric to such treatment, I do not desire to limit myself to the particular form of setting device herein shown.

By means of my invention, the production of tubular knitted fabrics in agiven time is materially greater than the production of braided fabrics in the same time, and a tubular fabric suitable for shoe strings, cor-- set lacings and the like, which is materially stronger than such articles now found on .lthe market, may be produced, and in addition a knitted thread for sewing, and like purposes which has not heretofore been made so far as I am aware, may be produced. The knitted thread referred to is materially stronger than the thread now commonly used, inasmuch as the knitted thread can said eyes, a guiding tube for said needles,

means for reciprocating said needles, a stripper tube located above said guiding tube and co-operating with said needles to support the free ends thereof and to limit inward movement thereof, a carrier for a plurality of threads revoluble about said reciprocating needles, guides for said threads movable with said carrier in a fixed path outside of and about said needles and means for presenting said threads to said needles to enable the latch of one needle to be moved into its open position by a thread in the eye of said needle and to be closed by a loop of the same thread and confine in-the eye of said needle a succeeding thread.

2. In a knitting machine, in combination, a plurality of reciprocating needles, a guiding tube about which said needles are arranged, means for reciprocating said needles, a movable carrier for a plurality of threads leading to-said needles, and a stripper tube cooperating with said guiding tube and located above and in axial alignment therewith, and co-operating with said needles to support the free ends thereof.

3. In a knitting machine, in combination, a plurality of reciprocating needles, a guiding tube about which said needles are arranged, means for reciprocating said needles, a movable carrier fora plurality of threads leading to said needles, guides for. said threads movable with said carrier in a fixed path outside of and about said needles and a hollow device cooperating with said guiding tube for resistin movement with said needles of loops of t reads on said needles, and co-operating with the said needles to support the free ends of the latter after they .have passed beyond the said guiding tube.

4. In a knitting machine, in combination, a plurality of reciprocating needles, a hollow guide for said needles, a movable carrier for a plurality of threads leading to said needles, means for feeding the knitted fabric through said hollow guide, a cam to reciprocate said needles and means actuated by said cam for striking the portion of the knitted fabric between said guiding tube and said feeding means to set the loops of the fabric,

5. In a knitting machine, in combination, a plurality of needles reciprocating in a fixed path, a cam to reciprocate said needles, a carrier for a plurality of threads leadi to said needles and revoluble about the pat all lit

6. In a knitting machine, in combination, a plurality of concentrically arranged needles, a guiding tube aboutv which said needles are arranged, means for'reciprocat mg 'said needles vertically, and a hollow' device co-operating with said needles to support the latter on their upward movement above said guiding tube and thereby maintain them in concentric relation and to engage loops of thread thereon and resist movement of said loops with said needles on said upward movement.

. 7. In a knitting machine, incombination, a plurality of reciprocating needles, a guiding tube about which said needles are arranged, means for reciprocatin said needles,

' a movable carrier for a plurality of threads leading to 'said needles, and a stripper tube located above and in axial-alignment with said guiding tube and provided with grooves for the reception of the needles on their movement above said guiding tube, said grooves having rear walls with which the free ends of the needles engage to be supported thereby.

8. In a knitting machine, in combination, a plurality of needles provided with eyes and with latches for closing and opening said eyes, means 'for reciprocating said needles, a carrier for a plurality of threads revoluble about said reciprocating needles, means for rotating said carrier continuously in one direction, guides for said threads movable with said carrier in a fixed path outside of and about said needles, and a tube afiixed to saidcarrier and surrounding said needles and having openings for the passage of the threads from the thread guides to said needles.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

.NRY M. SMITH. 

